Press and daily Dakotaian. (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1880-1889, 1887-01-24
THE STATEHOOD ISSUE.
Mr.. Myers Expresses Him
self ON the Moody
Letter.
An Outspoken Argument in Behalf OF
the Immediate Statehood Plan.
TO tn. Press and Dahotaian.

To the Press and Dakotaidn.
Red6eld, Dakota, January, 21-
l do not believe that any one at heart
can question Judge Moody's loyalty to
the cause of division and admission and
what has been said, has largely been for
the sake of having something to say.
Neither do I believe that there is any
one who has been favored with the
honored gentlemen's acquaintance but
what has great respect foz his mental
ability and candor, yet with all of this
honestly conceded there is a tenor in his
r%easonings which eavors of over polish
ing, or q too keenly whetted edge, to
reach practical ends in cutting our way
through the rocky barriers of opposition.
This same kind of reasoning is OBJ
servable in most men who have held
similar positions in life or who aspire to
them. They always travel in secure
paths-never making new ones.
In fact there is not enough Andrew
jackson in it-too much Haines-not
enough "Oamel."
Had congress refused to I'd NIT Ten
nessee after having received notice that
the territorial government OF Tennessee
would cease at such q time, jackson
would have declared the District OF
Columbia under martial law and arrest
ed every member of congress who would
dare to oppose the admission, and If the
president had interceded in their behalf
he would have sent George Washington
to prison with the rest, as he did the
judge Of New Orleans who issued the
writ of babeas corpus during the wal Of
1912.
I am only q partial admirer OF Andrew
J~aokson-I admire his determination SO
long as it was tethered to reason; but
whenever it pulled up the lettering
pin end scampered away across the
p~rairies of self will, my admiration
ceased.
The judge reasons we'll in the para.
graph where he compares Great Britain
with the United States until he reaches
the point where he says "the world iusti-
fed its colonies in rebelling against this
exercise of power; it would not Justify
the the territories in the like determine
| ton"
His conclusions are contrary to his
re%asoning-he reasons one thing and
determips another.
Why did the world justify the colonies ?
Because they we're in the right.
Why will not the world justify the
territories ?-Why? Some one says be-
cause congress has the right to keep
them out Of the union. Great Britain
lin the language OF Burke) had a right
to tax the colonies, "the assertion of
which cost her thirteen provinces, Six
islands 100, 900 lives and seventy millions
, of money" They claimed the right to
; tax America, but had not the power;
Congress has the power to keep us out
> of the union, but not the right; there is
the difference. Oae holds the right and
not the power, the other has the power
, but not the right.
Congress assumes the right, because
OF the power, but there 10 no foundation
for such assumption.
I regret to hear men Of education ust
y the word rebellion" in connection witt
4 the formation OF a state government
o The word, revolution, may be applied
' but not rebellion, never. 1t is an as.
~sertion of rights--it is an appeal to
h higher court, the people.
q It is no more rebellion" than Ell
appeal from its decision or sentence of
judge, to q higher tribunal, is rebellion.
The very feet, that there is no wsy o
reaching the courts 8 Why it is necessar!
to put ourAstate government in opera,
d ton and thereby force an issue.
1t Is our only way Of appeal from tn
decision OF congress.
Our position is. that congress- has blu
II one right in the matter of admission o
b states, when application'is made with sui
ieient numbers to entitle th
new state to one member G
congress under the ratio O
representation and with q constitution
lie republican in form. and that right ia t
admit the state.
A refusal is the assumption Of powe
80 the right OF which was never granted,
Suppose we set onr government i
motion and the president issues a proc
lamation for our legislature to disban
and our oficers to cease the functions
We their Office. What then?
ns Our appeal is perfected and we suomi
w rest q case with the jury ior thti